SEALSKINS 109 



blacks and in colours. The finishing of " black levant " may, 

 however, be selected as a typical case. The skins are soaked 

 back, tempered, and either split or shaved, according to 

 their substance and the size of grain wanted. The thin 

 skins of course give the fine grains. Mixed tannages need 

 scouting and possibly sumaching The skins are then 

 oiled up with linseed oil, sammed, set out and blacked. 

 In this last operation the grain is brushed over with a solu- 

 tion of logwood and ammonia, and afterwards with the iron 

 mordant which often contains glue. They are next hung 

 up for a while and then " wet grained " in four directions 

 belly to belly, shank to shank, across, and neck to butt. 

 After hanging up in a hot stove to set the grain, they are 

 cooled, fluffed on the flesh, and seasoned on the grain with 

 a solution of milk and blood. A little black dyestuff may 

 be added to the season. The season is well brushed in, the 

 skins dried somewhat, and then glazed. They are then 

 grained four ways again as above, dried out in the stove, 

 and lightly oiled with warm linseed oil on the grain. 



REFERENCE. 



Bennett, "Manufacture of Leather," 40, 56, 90, 112, 206, 251, 312, 

 346, 383- 



